> I 've got a 280 z auto matic and I want to
> replace the auto box with a 5 speed, it
> looks easy so I must be missing some thing
> are there any traps to watch out for and do
> I need to take out the engine to make the
> change
> Thanks
> Howard
To make a long story short, let me quote from Mr.Goodtech in Zcar mag.For general use and to make your search easier, i would say to get the 1981 and up 280zx box (non-turbo only) and run it with a 4.11 diff. There is a 2 page discription on gear ratios and diffrent transmissions, but in the end, this is what he recomends. He doesn't say anything about the engine side, as you have to prepare the spline out of the engine for the flywheel and make sure you get the flywheel cover and starter, which brings me to my point. Since he recomends getting a 1981 and up tranny(non-turbo only), I recomend getting the engine along with it. You get a better flowing head and you don't have to bother with trying to prepare your engine.
All the heads are interchangable to a point(you should make sure you can switch your intake and exhaust before hand), so all you would have to do is switch over your fuel injection, (though keeping everything from the 280zx engine would be better performance wise). Best would be switching to 71-72 su's, but dang those smog laws.
I have probably given more questions than answered, but if you are doing this for performance i would definatly check into getting all you can from that 280zx, including new headers. Thank you for reading, Yoshi